The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-07

settled here he was joined by his brother
Charles. who had taken to music with more pas
sion than prudence and had wandered about
the country teaching and playing publicly as he
found profitable opportunity, and we believe
gave himself the name of ''Wandering Willie
Settled here however, he formed the first choir,
or took the leadership of it. in any church here,
except the Episcopal Mr.. Ketcham, Mr. Vance.
Mr. Willard, DIR. Ackley-the only pronounced
Aboitionist in the town before Mr. Beechers
position had been declared-and his wife.
daughter of Dr. Baldwin, first president of Wa
bash College, were the principal members. In
the revival of 40 Charles was converted, and
subsequently became preacher himself, Two
younger half brothers. Francis X. and james
the latter committed suicide in New York State
year or SO ago-lved here with Mr.. Beecher
for time. The latter, lad of fifteen or six
teen, was pupil in the Old Seminary, and got
wel-earned thrashing for playing hockey to hunt
wild ducks in the river. He afterwards ad-
mltted that that licking was the making of him.
by taking the couceit out Of him. But he ap-
preciated it Sc little at the time that he put on
three coats and many vests to provide against
the chance of it when his brother brought him
up to school for Mr.. Kemper to deal with sac
cording to law"
About the time his brother Charles came here,
Mr.. Beecher bought the acre block on the south
west corner Of Ohio and New Jersey streets,
and built next to the alley west of New Jersey
street the twostory frame house still standing
in good condition, and long occupied by DR..
Talbot Billiard, his wife's brother. Here he APP
piled himself to gardening with his usual en-
ergy, and did as much Of it for ornament and
pleasure as for more material service in the
kitchen. Here the late Daniel Yandes. he said,
lone day, while looking over the fence, watch
ing him trim hisrose and lilac bushes suggested,
with the dry humor that sometimes cropped out
of his conversation. that the finest flower in that
garden the cabbage" The taste for horti-
culture appeared in a more effective form
little later, In the assumption of the editorship
of the Indiana Farmer, an agricultural monthly,
established in 1885 or 36 by Mr.. Osborn and
Mr.. Willett. Overtaken by disaster about 1910
and abandoned by its founders, it was revived
by Mr.. s. V. B. Noel, then proprietor of the
Journal, and Mr. Beechers articles had a wide
circulation, mainly by reproduction in other
publications. He retained this editorial position
till he left this city.
At the May meeting. in 1S47,. Of the National
Missionary Association of his church. he at
tracted general attention by a sermon, or speech
probably the latter-whick brought him the
call from Plymouth Church. Brooklyn. He left
this city first temporarily. in the latter part of
August. lS47. The writer happened to be on the
steamer with him going from Madison-lt was
just before the completion of the Madison rail
road, which had then reached Greenwood-and,
being as we'll acquainted as boy usually is with
man, Mr.. Beecher spoke TO him quite freely Of
his feelings and expectations in leaving here.
He said he had not made up his mind fully to
remove to Brooklyn. He much inclined to
return to the West and remain. at least after a
trial of the Eastern situation and service. This
inclination disappeared as he saw the field of his
service widening, and doubtless his rapidly
widening and rising reputation had some infu-
ence in the same direction. He would have been
more or less than human if it had not.
In the fall of 1855. as the writer thinks, he
came here leeturng tour under the manage
ment of some Eastern ''impressario." and deiv-
cred lecture against know othngsm," or
the policy of restricting the naturalization of
foreign immigrants by greatly lengthenng the
precedent term Of residence. It was In this ad-
dress that he illustrated the absurdity of the
of ''foreignizing"-to coin word--the country
by the remark, 'When eat chicken, don't be-
come chicken chicken becomes me.n Several of
his old friends and church members were dis
pleased with his ''selling himself out" as they
called it, by his contract with the manager of
the tour, and learning Of it, he wrote to the Jour
nal as soon he got home. explaining and justi-
flying his action. The letter, noticed a
short time ago in the Sunday journal, in COM
| municaton from the editor at that time, was
most coTnically and vexatiously mixed up by a
drunken negligent foreman with an article on
a new kind Of bread that was coming into vogue,
and the first publication utterly spoiled The
blunder was corrected the next day, and, as far
as the writer now recalls, this was the last pub
LEGATION made in the Journal directly from Mr.
Beecher. His incessant occupation as preacher,
editor writer. lecturer and occasional stump
speaker has prevented him from maintaining as
frequent a connection with his old home here as
he and his friends could hhve wished, and now
il is ended for all time to come in this world.
ID